The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to caution his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy over his claims that it will be difficult for the federal government to approve the proposed N100,000 new Minimum Wage.
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Comrade Nuhu Toro, the union said: “Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu had claimed that it will be difficult for Government to peg the proposed new Minimum Wage at N100,000.
“He hypothetically said that both the Federal and State Governments will be unable to pay public servants a N100, 000 or more National Minimum Wage if such were approved.
“The remarks made by the aide are not only insensitive but also indicative of a disconnect from the realities faced by millions of hardworking individuals striving to make ends meet,” it said.
The statement further said; “the Federal and State Governments, employers and Labour, are in the preliminary stages of negotiations for the New National Minimum Wage in the country in accordance with the constitution.
“If the Presidency has a figure or figures it wants to propose, it should do so through the Minimum wage negotiating Committee, through social dialogue, determined by the cost of living index, rather than behave like a man throwing stones in the market place and hiding his hand.
“The Presidency has knowledgeable people in government that can advise on how proposals are submitted to the negotiating body, rather than allow grossly uniformed speculators like Mr Onanuga to dirty the waters.
“Again, his baseless speculation will no doubt serve to sow the seed of discord and undermine trust in the government.
“Nonetheless, Congress is not going to dignify Onanuga and his principals with counter proposals because this is neither how tripartite negotiation work, nor how social dialogue can be carried out.
“We urge the working people to ignore and disregard Onanuga and his tribe of gamblers who while milking the country dry, wail that there is no money to pay hard working Nigerians decent wages.
“We urge all Nigerians to support the democratic process of arriving at a living wage, and ignore the tantrums and distractions of people who think governance is all about propaganda, not sincerely serving the people.”
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